saliger



A. B. SALIGER.

CENTRIFUGAL GUN.

APPLICATION men JUNE 7, 191a.

Patented July 29; 1919.

m MM J u A w WITNESS A. B. SALIGER.

CENTRIFUGAL GUN. APPLICATION man JUNE 1. 191a.

Patented July 29, 1919. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- INVENTOR BAtiorney v I WITNESS A. B. SALIGER.

CENTRIFUGAL GUN.-

APPLICATION FILED JUNE r. 1916.

1,3 1 1,465 Patented July 29, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q -YI- IN-VENTIOI'R I:

I WITNESS I ALOIS IB. SALIGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORIIO INTERGONTINENTALCOMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF OALIFORNIA.

GEN'DRIIiUGrAI: GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

{Patented July 29, 1919;.

To all whom it-may concern:

Be itknown that I, ALois B. Samoan, a citizen of the United States, residing in-the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Centrifugal Guns, of whichthefollowing is a specification.

The invention aims to provide certain improvements in such guns, directed particularly to the securing of a reliable feedand certain other features of advantagereferred to in detail hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a mechanism embodying each of the several features of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partlybroken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the plane'being indicated at 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 4, showing'the -main shaft in elevation and showing the propelling-means and the magazine in section;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.-4c of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line'5'5,-Fig. Al, showing certain parts in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view approximately on'the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the lower end of the magazine and Fig.'-8 a sectionthereof on theline S8 of Fig. '7.

Referring now 'to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the projectiles are metal disks A and these'are propelled or projected into the air in an approximately horizontal direction and with their aXes at right angles to the line of flight or approximately vertical. They are also given a spinning movement abouttheir axes which, by its gyroscopic effect, tends to maintain them horizontal; thus insuring a very long range in proportionto theirlinear velocity. The projeetilesare inserted in'the upper open end of a magazine B and are discharged from its'lower'end onto a rapidly revolving propelling means comprising a plate() carryingvanes or shoulders D, and a top plate E fastened rigidly {tothe vanes and the bottom plate. These propelling parts are locatedin:afixedcasing comprising abottom plate F, a top G and a periphera]. Tiange'H which, however, is cut away for-a portion of the circumference, as indicated at J, in Fig. 4, to constitute a muzzle through which the projectiles are dis charged. "The main shaft'K which carries the propelling means may be driven by any usual or suitable motor, as by the bevel: gear connection shown to the electric motor L, or by a gasoleneor other motor Where electric power is not easily obtainable.

On the rotating plateC-is a lug or sort of firingpin M which, when the magazine is in the position shown, travels on theplane of the lowest projectile therein so as to strike the same and force it sidewise out of'the magazine, the magazinehaving at its lower end side slots as indicated in Figs. 7 and 5. The rapid rotation of the plate forces the projectiles outward quickly into engagement with the shoulder D, which is curvedin accordance with the designed speed of the machine and other conditions so as to direet the projectile out through the muzzle J. By making the operating face of the shoulder D concave, as shown,.the rojectile is directed forward at a speed even greater than thatof the-rotation of the propelling means (calling, of course, for a corresponding increase of'the driving power). Such operating face may, however, be straight or may be turned backward conveXly, and the speed of rotation of the parts designed'to give whatever propelling power is desired.

The concave face, however, has special advantages. First, it secures a good spinning motion of'the projectile. As the latter is "forced radially outward by centrifugal force it can move only by rolling its edge against the shoulder D. The-discharge of the projectile follows so rapidly on its engagement by the propelling means,in a small fraction of a second 'in a -machine which I have designed that it is diflicult to secure'the spin which is-necessary to make it persistin its plane during a long flight. The bending of the shoulder backward from its origin near the center increases its camming. efi'ect outward but lessens'the pressure withwhichit engages the prOjectileal-ready moving outward very rapidly. The bending of the shoulder forward increases such pressure and makes it possible to give the projectile a forced spinmng movement of a complete turn or more before it leaves the n. The concave face or shoulder has a further advantage in that when it comes lnto contact with the projectile it does not have the tendency to throw the pro ectlle off which occurs with a straight or a convex face. The concave face tends rather to hug the projectile. As the projectile is forced out by centrifugal force it rolls forward along the shoulder. It contlnues to be held in contact with the shoulder and its path of movement within the gun and the moment when it shall be expelled from the propelling shoulder can be very accurately controlled.

For accuracy of aim I have designed a machine illustrated so that the projectile shall run beyond the end of the propelling shoulder before it reaches the muzzle of the gun. In Fig. i I have indicated in dotted lines the position of the shoulder D and of the projectile A, as determined roughly in the machine which I have built, at the moment when the projectile passes beyond the end of the shoulder. From this point the projectile, traveling slightly faster than the propelling shoulder will roll around on the inner face of the flange H of the casing, and, when it arrives at the muzzle will pass out of the same at a true tangent to this fixed flange. Thus starting from the bottom of the magazine as indicated, the projectile will make somewhat more than one complete revolution, passing in a spiral around and outward from the center until it arrives at the point indicated in dotted lines after which its path is a circular one until it arrives at the muzzle. The point of the shoulder D is made to taper very gradually so as to be nearly tangent to the inner circular face of the flange H and to ease the passing of the projectile from the shoulder D to the flange H. I have found that by this arrangement and by the use of disks and the spinning thereof up to a rapid rate before discharge, a very accurate aim can be secured, which is a matter of considerable difliculty as well as of the greatest importance. A vane or shoulder D is mounted on the plate C and is symmetrically arranged with the vane D. As illustrated this is only for the purpose of counterbal-' ancing the plate. The machine may be arranged, however, to use the vane D also for propelling projectiles so as to secure a rate of fire which is double that of the rate of revolution of the propelling plate, and in theory a considerable number of such. vanes may be used for this purpose, but for practical reasons I prefer to use a single propelling vane.

The magazine 13 is mounted at its lower end in a boss N on the top plate G of the fixed casing and at its upper end in a fixed bracket 0. It is free to move vertically and a mechanism is used which operates synchronously with the propelling means and which, in case the magazine is not in exactly correct position, positively forces it into feeding position or positively withdraws it therefrom at the instant that the firing lug M comes into play. Thus the projectiles are positively controlled and fed and there is no doubt of the exact instant when they will be brought to firing position.

For this purpose the lower end of the magazine is trunnioned (Figs. 5 and 6) in arms of a rocking lever P which is pivoted at P in lugs Q projecting upward from the casing and which has at its forward end a transverse tapered arm B. On the upper end of the shaft K is a pair of grooves S and T between which is located a cam U pointed at its advance end and adapted to engage the arm R and throw it into or hold it positively in one or the otherof said grooves while the firing pin or lug M passes the line of the magazine.

The magazine is pulled upward by a strong spring V engaging an arm W which is pivoted at its rear end and has a forked forward end taking under a shoulder of the magazine (Fig. 7). The projectiles are inserted loosely in the tube, preferably in the form of slugs or cartridges consisting each of a number of disks held together in correct position by means of paraffin or similar easily breakable means. 1 For firing rapidly we cannot safely depend on gravity to feed them through the magazine as rapidly as the propelling means can take care of them. I have designed a forced feed which presses the projectiles down through the magazine and which also presses the magazine down into firing position. Whether or not the feed is rapid enough to satisfy the capacity of the propelling means however, the synchronizing arrangement above referred to will insure that a projectile is completely in the firing position or completely withdrawn therefrom, so that a reliable operation will be secured. The force feed mechanism which I have illustrated comprises a palr of chains X which travel downward 1n engagement with the sides of the column of pro ectiles, being passed over guide sprockets Y and driving sprockets Z mount.

ed respectively on shafts a and Z). The shafts a, Z) at one side and those at the other s1de are mounted in blocks 0 (Fig, 2) drawn together by a spring (Z, the pulling effect of which is limited by screws 0 screwing through one of the blocks and hearing at their ends against the other. One of the shafts b is driven from the motor L as shown in Fig. 1 and carries a spur gear 7 for drivtenses ing the other. To prepare for -firing, the operator will insert enough slugs in the magazine to extend nearly up to .the lowest point of ztlle chains X. In this situation the spring V will hold the magazine up. The motor is then started and brought .up to speed. Upon dropping additional car tridges in the magazine they will be engaged by the chains X and, with the magazine, will be pressed down against the resistance of the spring V. If the downward .movement of the magazine by the force of the chains X is not sufficiently rapid to be completed before the firing lug strikes the lowermost projectile, the cam U will throw the magazine completely down or completely up at the instant that the firing lug passes the firing point. If the magazine is thrown up the first time, the force of the chains will be sufficient to bring it so nearly down before the next operation that the cam U will throw it completely down. Thereafter the .chains will hold themagazines down as long as there are enough projectiles in the magazine to extend up to the chains. As the top projectile in .the magazine passes below the reach of the chains there will be some un certainty as to the vertical position of the magazine but, .if it be more than half way down, the cam U will complete-the movement and, if it be more than halfway up, the cam U will throw it completely up. This forcible synchronizing cam therefore comes into play particularly in the stopping and the starting of the machine. chine fires so rapidly (that which I have designed having a firing capacity of 12,000 per minute) that, the feeding of the projectilesiby hand a-nduninterruptedly as fast as the machine ,can fire them is difficult and there will be anumber of moments when the supply will fallrbelow the chains. The synchronizing; device therefore will come into play often and some such device to avoid uncertainty at the starting and stopping of aafeeding movement is of importance.

Another feature-of value in the arrangement shown lies in the .maintenance of a number, of projectiles in the bottom ofathe magazine'after.thezmaehine stops firing. If a single projectile were dropped into the empty magazine it might become canted and pass out through the slot in the bottom before its time and thus jam or otherwise interfere with the operation of the machine. Even if a single projectile rested fiat on the bottom of the magazine it might be shaken out sidewise and there is always a possibility, even when the projectiles are held downward with parafiin or some such means, that the lowest one will become detached accidentally. By providing a plug or filling in the bottom of the magazine consisting of a number of projectiles it is practically assured that the one on the bottom The mawill be held in correct position, and those which are dropped in from above will rest flat on those whichare already in the magazine.

Themagazinezis guided at its upper end in a bushing g mounted in the arm 0 and at its lower-end in the cover plate G of the easing. The lower end ofthe magazinemay be broken or deformed in operation and for this purpose I make it detachable, so that a new end piece can be easily substituted for an injured one. As shown in Figs. 7 and S the end piece B is provided with flanges 7h adapted to fit the notches cut in the sides of the body portion of the magazine, so that by a simple lateral motion the end piece B may be inserted into engagement with the body portion. This is done before insertion into the sliding bearing in the cover plate, and its movement thereafter is so slight there is no opportunity for a lateral sep aration of-the parts.

To increase the scattering of the projectiles I propose to add a non-rotating defiector which shall receive the projectiles as they come from the propelling means. Such a deflector is shown at y comprising a straight rod with. a groove in the side thereof, this rod being pivoted at is and adapted to be adjusted slightly in the horizontal plane by means of a hand wheel Z on a shaft m which has a shouldered engagement with a trunnioned block 42 fastened to the deflector and which has a threaded engagement with a trunnioned block 0 attached to the fixed casing of the machine. In the inoperative position of this deflector it is adjusted to bear against a lug p on the casing of the machine. In this position the sights q and 1" are set for straight firing in the usual way. lVhen it is desired to secure a scattered firing however thehand wheel is turned to ad-- just. the front sight 9 toward the muzzle of the gun, upon which the projectiles will be deflected at angles varying slightly from each other, but sufficient to secure a considerable spread at a distance from the muzzle.

The entire gun will be mounted for swingingto the right or to the left or upward or downwardby any suitable mechanism, such as is commonly used for small ordnance for example.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail a complete -machineembodying my invention yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is limited to the articular machine shown. Various modi cations in detail and in the arrangement of the parts and various applications of the separate features of improvement may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

What I claim is 1. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a propelling device, a magazine and continuously moving means for positively forcing said disks along in said magazine.

2. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a propelling device, a magazine having an open receiving end and means for engaging the edges of disks in said magazine and forcing them forward.

3. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal. force including in combination a rapidly rotating propelling device, means for forcibly introducing said disks in succession to said propelling device, said means being controlled by the position of said propelling device so as to synchronize it perfectly with the propelling device.

4. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a rapidly rotating propelling device and a magazine for the disks movable into and out of position to bring the foremost disk therein into engagement with said propelling device.

5. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a rapidly rotating propelling device, means for forcibly introducing said disks in succession to said propelling device and a-cam which is rotated with said propelling device and which positively forces a disk into position or completely out of position.

6. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a movable magazine, means for engaging disks in said magazine and forcing them and the magazine forward continuously until the disks are beyond said forcing means, a rapidly rotating propelling device and means operated by said propelling device for insuring a completely advanced or a completely withdrawn position of said magazine when it is only partially advanced by said forcing means.

7. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a movable magazine, means for engaging disks in said magazine and forcing them and the magazine forward continuously until the disks are beyond said forcing means a rapidly rotating propelling device, and a double cam carried thereby adapted to engage on one face or the other a part connected to said magazine when the latter is in an intermediate position and to complete the advance or the withdrawal of said magazine.

8. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a magazine and a continuously moving means engaging the edges of the disks in said magazine and feeding them forward.

9. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a magazine and a pair of continuously moving chains pressed against the edges of the disks in said magazine and feeding them forward.

10. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force inoludin g in combination a rapidly rotating propelling means, a magazine adapted to hold its foremost projectile in firing position and a firing device rotating with the propelling means and adapted to forcibly remove said foremost projectile from the magazine and to cause its engagement with the propelling means.

11. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a rapidly rotating propelling means, a magazine adapted to hold its foremost projectile in firing position and a firing device rotating with the propelling means and adapted to strike the foremost projectile in the magazine and throw it sidewise out of the same and into engagement with the propelling means.

12. A machine for propelling disks by centrifugal force including in combination a rapidly rotating propelling means, a magazine adapted to hold its foremost projectile in firing position and a firing device rotating with the propelling means and adapted to forcibly remove said foremost projectile from the magazine and to cause its engage-- my name.

ALOIS B. SALIGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

